Disclaimers: I do not own anything out of Resident Evil. All of the contents belongs to Capcom.

Chapter VII: Surrender

'Please, do not tell the King about this. And never the Prince.' - Gabrielle Muller

Queen's Chamber, Morning

Jill returned to the Queen's chamber alone that morning because Rebecca reluctantly complied to her request. Seeing that her stewardess returned without a physician made Queen sighed in relief.

Gabrielle was about to speak but was fitted with a choke of cough, so severe that it wouldn't stop, her stewardess quickly came up to her and rubbed her back. When it did stop, Gabrielle took a few deep breath for herself and smiled to Jill, "Good work, Jill. Good work indeed." That praise was not one bit appreciate by Jill when she knelt down in front of her beloved Queen.

"No, your Highness. Doctor Rebecca isn't here because I promised her that you will be going to meet her yourself." The narrowed gaze of Jill emphasized her seriousness, "Even the King had issued the order, that the Doctor will be severely punished if she failed to diagnose you."

The mention of her husband made Gabrielle's spirit faltered, she hadn't seen him in a while and she was far too weak to visit him. She didn't need to, after all, he had his beautiful personal stewardess Excella Giovanni that as far younger than the Queen is and a better help for The King.

Not that she said she never missed him, she always had.

Weakly, the Queen moved herself from the bed to her couch and settled herself, "No, Jill." She insisted.

"Please, my Queen!" Jill whispered-shouted, because if she manage her volume any louder, her tears would run amok, "I am worried about you! Everyone was worried about you! Even the Prince!"

"My son?"

"Yes! The Prince might be ignorant and cold to you, but I know that his Highness still had a heart for you. The Prince held you in his regard more than the King did."

Unable to control herself, Jill broke in tears and she wiped them away with the sleeve of her long dress.

Gabrielle stared sorrily at the stewardess that had been with her for so long.

Maybe she was trying to avoid the truth for too long that it worried and hurt everyone.

Finally, with a submissive nod, came The Queen's reply, "Very well."

Doctor Chambers and Doctor Hamilton were both equally surprised with the guest coming into their working place. Jill was right, she did convince the Queen to visit the infirmary on her own.

They bid the Queen to sit and George abandoned his work to assist Rebecca. They worked fluidly together, although with Cindy around would be a great help. After retrieving some phlegm and some blood from the Queen, Rebecca asked some general healthcare question to the Gabrielle while George analysed the samples. Apparently, Gabrielle's cough had been extended for days and she had been losing weight rather quickly, which was rather evident because they could see the Queen's jawbone.

Moment later after they waited, George urgently called for Rebecca behind the curtains that shielded him and the guests.

On the desk full of surgical tools and bottle of chemical, George's forehead was sweating and Rebecca stared in awe at the small dish of blood that belonged to the Queen.

The red was no longer red.

It was black.

"I can't believe this..." Rebecca hand's trembled when she came closer to inspect the small dish. It was all blackness on the Queen's blood, like a blot of ink after whatever chemical that George used to test on it.

Their fear was proven true.

Both pair of eyes were on the same blackness until they heard the curtains being pulled. The Queen stood there facing the doctors and Jill was already teary-eyed.

Gabrielle was well-aware what the situation is.

"Please, do not tell the King about this. And never the Prince."

Rear Castle, Afternoon

"Mi'lord, isn't it time for your sword training today?"

Jake glared over his shoulder to the younger woman by his side, she was a few steps slower than Jake was. Usually, it was Chris or Kennedy to remind Jake of his training schedule and now this girl is taking over? The Prince sighed, now he will not have the chance to play hide-and-seek with the knights again now that Sherry had taken over.

He kept his trail aimlessly, he had been walking all around the castle for three hours without setting an exact location and Sherry was forced to tag along with him. The people in the castle had been casting Sherry the 'look' and she felt unbothered by it. She knew that they had meant her sympathy. Jake knew that Sherry was tired but that's his plan, tire her out. The devil-may-care Prince shrugged, "Not in the mood today. I prefer a walk. Plus, I am too good for them." Then Jake stopped his tracks to look at Sherry, "You can go back if you are tired, I don't mind you skimping out."

Sherry shook her head, sweat had been breaking out all over her forehead, "No, I'm not. It is my duty to stay with you, your Highness."

"Suit yourself." So Jake continued walking, uncaring.

Unlike the previous girls who kept bugging around The Prince to make him go for his training, Sherry was quiet along the way. Her silence and her panting was making him to feel... guilty. 'Why am I going soft for this woman? No, I shouldn't spare her mercy. It's only for her own good...'

At least that what he think before he changed his direction to the front castle. His feet was not moving to his own accord and Jake found it extremely strange, he found himself to be merciful to Sherry despite his original intention. Although what he really want to do was to ignore her, but she was making him easy. Too easy.

"Fine... I am going to the front castle... Are you really coming along?"

The smile on Sherry's lips made him flutter, Jake quickly tore his gaze away from her before it got any further, 'What the fuck is wrong with me? But damn it.'

The twenty-one nodded firmly, "Of course, wherever you may go, mi'lord."

He only huffed.

Later, they arrived to the training ground where Chris and Piers was no where in sight. The Wesker assumed that they must have gone out to look for him. It's a first, actually, to have the defiant Jake to go to the training ground on his own will (unless provoked by Piers).

Jake and Sherry didn't miss that the knights around were staring at them, more specifically - Sherry. Because it was rare indeed to have a woman setting a foot to the front castle which had been anonymously belonged to the men. No women had ever dared to come close to the front castle without the King's or Queen's order, except Jill Valentine whom every knight had acknowledged her to be the Queen's personal stewardess and the Grand General's woman.

And suddenly, Jake felt possessive, "These pricks had never seen a woman before?" He mumbled, Sherry was clearly shifting uncomfortably.

"Um... should I go and fetch the General?" She asked.

But Chris and Piers had already arrived to the grounds, both were equally surprised to see the Prince earlier than they were.

The Grand General's astounding height easily towering the small Sherry when they came up close. Sherry bowed, lifting her dress by a little to greet the General and his apprentice. Piers' eyes were trained onto Jake's competitive stare and Chris told Sherry be be at ease.

Then he switched it back to the Prince, "Good day, your Highness. I'm glad to see that you're joining us here today. Was it the this young lady, here? Is it Sherry?"

"Yes, sir."

"Ah, I've heard you from Claire. She's my sister." Chris smiled, turning his head back to the Prince.

Jake's blue orbs flickered to the General and he said irritably, "Can we get this over with? I don't like wasting time."

"Me too, sire." Piers agreed, his hand was already touching the hilt of his sword.

Chris smirked to his eager trainee, but he placed a hand to his shoulder for him to stand down and he drew his own prized blade from the scabbard - the Samurai Edge, specially custom made by his old friend. The only other person to have this blade was the King himself, although the King customized it again to suit his own taste, "Today, your opponent will be me, your Highness."

The Samurai Edge gleamed threateningly it was the same gleam that spilled the blood of his enemy. Giving it a light swing, Chris asked Piers and Sherry to stand back and watch, "Piers, take care of the young lady, would you?"

"But, sire-"

"Piers..."

The protest was proven useless and Piers saluted, "Yes, sir." Then he turned to Sherry with a smile and bow slightly, "Mind if you come with me, miss Sherry?" He extended his arm to an empty spot away from the training ground.

His eyes were of mischief, although he didn't really meant it.

Oddly enough, the careless Jake found himself burning up at the sight that Sherry smiled back to him meekly.

Jake pulled his sword from his scabbard and got ready, he need to end this quickly so that he didn't have to put up to whatever that Piers puppy was making to his woman... stewardess.

And he was the first one to make the first move.

Sherry winced at the thundering contact of Jake's blade with Chris', she wasn't very used to violence neither to the sound of blades clashing upon each other. It was followed by a few more and she slowly got used to the deafening sound of the friction between two steel.

Sherry was standing right next to Piers and she was not surprised that he looked so calm, but it was the way that he crossed his arms and admire the brutal fight between the two men like a play in a theater. Maybe only a knight like him can understand the subtlety between two men exchanging blades.

The young knight glanced toward the small lady and he noticed how she had her hands clasped on her hand. She was afraid, maybe she was thinking that one of them will get hurt, "Don't worry, miss Sherry. The General will make sure there will be no blood shed. Neither of them will be hurt, it is only a spar."

"I'm... sorry. But I'm not used to violence like this." Sherry replied shakily.

Piers nodded, he can understand her. She was a woman, not a knight like himself, "You don't have to, although it would be an enjoyment if you can understand how the General handling the fight." He smiled in glee, "The truth of this battle: it was the general's fight. He was the one calling the shots. The general was the one dictating how this fight will flow."

Their eyes averted again back to Chris and Jake.

"How so?" The blonde asked.

Piers shrugged again, "If the general wanted the battle to end, he can do it in the next second. But he didn't. General Redfield is more than just brute strength."

She found the meaning behind his explanation, if she watched carefully, Chris easily blocked out every of Jake's blind move and he attacked the spot which will not harm Jake in return.

"Uh... sorry, miss Sherry, did I bore you with my ramble?" Piers laughed, flashing his teeth. He was glad that Sherry laughed softly along.

"No, I think I get what you're saying. And... Sherry is fine, sir Nivans." She smiled.

"You can call me Piers too, 'sir Nivans' was a mouthful."

"Are you done flirting with my stewardess, puppy?"

They were startled, Jake and Chris had already walking back to where they stand and Jake had a pair of darkened eyes glaring at the two. Chris even had his Samurai Edge withdrawn in his scabbard. They wondered why they hadn't noticed that the two men had concluded their sparring.

Piers saluted to his General and Sherry bowed to Jake, who made a sarcastic comment, "Seems like you two had a nice long chat."

But it was Piers who quickly retorted the Prince, "No, sir. We were only talking about... the spar."

"Is the way we fought funny? Because you guys were laughing." He hissed.

The awkward situation that Jake had made was easily dispersed by Chris who calmly dismissed the Prince, "Good job today, your Highness. I hope that you will make it on time the next time we meet."

Jake just walked off. And Sherry bowed to Piers and Chris before following after the Prince quickly.

"Whatever."

Rear castle, Afternoon

"Jill."

Claire called after the woman who had an empty gaze on her eyes. She did not got a response she wanted from the referred so she tried again, "Jill!"

The sharp call of her name made Jill jumped slightly, she gasped and placed a hand to her heart to slow her accelerating heartbeat. When she turned to look at Claire, the latter noticed that something was amiss in her best friend. Claire came up to her with a delicate frown, Jill was always cautious woman, why would a simply call of her name frighten her?

"Is something wrong, Jill? You looked... off today." Claire cocked her head to her side.

Valentine shook her head, murmuring her answer so softly that Claire failed to hear it even straining her ears. Then Jill stopped mid-sentence and looked sadly to the floor. So, Claire decided to let her question die there. There was no use shaking an answer out and it wouldn't be nice to do so.

But then Jill suddenly broke into tears in the hallway.

"Oh my... what happened, Jill? Why did you-" Claire looked left and right, fortunately, there was no one around them and she stroked her back soothingly. Jill sobbed quietly and when she had calmed herself just in time, Claire guided Jill to her room which happened to be just nearby.

They sat on the bed with Jill wiping the tears away with the back of her sleeves. Claire had never seen the Queen's stewardess this sad, she usually hide her emotions but the problem occurred to Jill this time must be very serious. Too serious that she just broke down in the hallway. Claire poured a glass of water to Jill who accepted it and only took a sip. Her eyes were red and puffy so Claire assumed that Jill had cried once before she met her.

"Is it about the Queen, Jill?" She took a guess. And when Jill's breath hitched, she knew that she was right.

It did matter the Queen.

Jill inhaled deeply, trying to recollect her voice so that she won't cry when she spoke, "I can tell you about this, Claire. I trust you. But please, do not ever inquire this the King. Never the Prince."

"Understood, Jill. You can count on me. I will not tell anyone about this, not even my husband nor my brother." Claire vowed earnestly, because if he told any of the two, one things always turn to another: Leon will tell Chris and by how chivalrous Chris was, he'll definitely tell Jake.

Jill sobbed weakly again, "The Queen... she was inflicted with..."

"With what?"

Silence passed by them and the only thing heard in the room was Jill's sob and Claire's heartbeat.

Until a soft whisper, so soft that it was whispered to Claire's ear.

"Cancer."

A.N: Oohh... Piers hits on Sherry! :D And is Jake jealous?
But uh, bad news for the queen... :(

RFF!